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12 picks · data-backed ranking

Best source-available self-hosted apps

The most popular source-available self-hosted apps are n8n, Dify.ai and Open-WebUI. n8n leads with 206,738 GitHub stars. Candidates: the 46 apps whose license appsgit classifies as source-available (public code, but not an OSI-approved license).

Source-available apps publish their code but use a license that is not OSI-approved, usually to stop others selling the software as a hosted service or to limit production use. They are often free to self-host for your own use; read each license first.

Updated · data from GitHub, refreshed nightly

Top picks

  1. Rank 1:

    n8n

    n8n-io/n8n

    Free node based Workflow Automation Tool. Easily automate tasks across different services.

    FeaturedSource-availableAutomation & WorkflowsTypeScriptDocker

    n8n has 206,738 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 9,029 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT.

  2. Rank 2:

    Dify.ai

    langgenius/dify

    Build, test and deploy LLM applications.

    Source-availableLow-code & BackendTypeScriptDocker

    AI-nativeDify.ai has 157,921 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Dify Open Source License (modified Apache 2.0) (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 6,112 commits in the last year; it replaces ChatGPT and Lovable.

  3. Rank 3:

    Open-WebUI

    open-webui/open-webui

    User-friendly AI Interface, supports Ollama, OpenAI API.

    Source-availableAI & LLM ToolsPythonDocker

    AI-nativeOpen-WebUI has 154,037 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Open WebUI License (BSD-3-Clause plus branding clause) (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 4,746 commits in the last year; it replaces ChatGPT and Lovable.

Full ranking

All 12 picks, ranked

Ranked by GitHub stars and recent activity. Open any pick for live stats and licence details.

  1. 1

    n8n

    Free node based Workflow Automation Tool. Easily automate tasks across different services.

    n8n has 206,738 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 9,029 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT.

  2. 2

    Dify.ai

    Build, test and deploy LLM applications.

    AI-nativeDify.ai has 157,921 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Dify Open Source License (modified Apache 2.0) (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 6,112 commits in the last year; it replaces ChatGPT and Lovable.

  3. 3

    Open-WebUI

    User-friendly AI Interface, supports Ollama, OpenAI API.

    AI-nativeOpen-WebUI has 154,037 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Open WebUI License (BSD-3-Clause plus branding clause) (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 4,746 commits in the last year; it replaces ChatGPT and Lovable.

  4. 4

    LobeHub

    Modern design AI chat framework supporting multiple AI providers, one click install MCP Marketplace and Artifacts / Thinking.

    AI-nativeLobeHub has 83,008 GitHub stars, is source-available under the LobeHub Community License (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 7,488 commits in the last year; it replaces ChatGPT and Lovable.

  5. 5

    AFFiNE

    Privacy-first workspace that combines docs, whiteboards and databases, an open-source Notion alternative.

    AFFiNE has 73,246 GitHub stars, is source-available under the MIT (client) and AFFiNE Enterprise Edition licence (server) (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 752 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Dropbox Paper.

  6. 6

    NocoDB

    No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet).

    NocoDB has 65,197 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 6,636 commits in the last year; it replaces Supabase and Airtable.

  7. 7

    tldraw

    Infinite canvas whiteboard and SDK for drawing and diagramming.

    tldraw has 50,773 GitHub stars, is source-available under the tldraw license (not an open-source license) and had 1,958 commits in the last year; it replaces Figma and Lucidchart.

  8. 8

    Sentry Self-Hosted

    Powerful error tracking platform with wide language support and a robust API.

    Sentry Self-Hosted has 45,479 GitHub stars, is source-available under the FSL 1.1 (Apache 2.0 future licence) (not an open-source license) and had 17,926 commits in the last year; it replaces Sentry.

  9. 9

    Outline

    Extensible wiki for your team.

    Outline has 40,818 GitHub stars, is source-available under the BSL 1.1 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 2,031 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Dropbox Paper.

  10. 10

    Directus

    An Instant App & API for your SQL Database. Directus wraps your new or existing SQL database with a realtime GraphQL+REST API for developers, and an intuitive admin app for non-technical users.

    Directus has 38,026 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Monospace Sustainable Core License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 736 commits in the last year; it replaces Firebase and Supabase.

  11. 11

    NocoBase

    Extensible no-code and low-code platform for building business apps.

    NocoBase has 24,463 GitHub stars, is source-available under the NocoBase License Agreement (Apache 2.0 with added terms) (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 6,347 commits in the last year.

  12. 12

    Thingsboard

    IoT Platform - Device management, data collection, processing and visualization.

    Thingsboard has 22,512 GitHub stars, is source-available under the BSL 1.1 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 3,539 commits in the last year.

FAQ

Questions and answers

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

What are the best source-available self-hosted apps?

The most popular source-available self-hosted apps are n8n, Dify.ai and Open-WebUI. n8n leads with 206,738 GitHub stars. Candidates: the 46 apps whose license appsgit classifies as source-available (public code, but not an OSI-approved license).

Is n8n free?

Not by the OSI definition. n8n is source-available rather than open source: its code is public under the Sustainable Use License 1.0, which is not an OSI-approved open-source license. The Sustainable Use License allows use and changes for your own internal business or personal purposes, but not reselling the software or offering it as a paid hosted service. Check the license in the repository before using it commercially.

Can I self-host these apps with Docker?

Yes, 10 of the 12 picks. n8n, Dify.ai and Open-WebUI publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. The others install from their own packages or source; follow each project's install guide.

Are all of these apps open source?

No. None of the 12 apps on this list is open source by the OSI definition: their code is public under source-available licenses that add conditions, such as limits on hosted, competing or commercial use. Many are still free to self-host for your own use; read each license before you deploy.

Which of these apps is the most actively developed?

Sentry Self-Hosted, with 17,926 commits in the last 12 months and a latest release, 26.9.0, from September 2026. Activity is a good sign that bugs and security issues get fixed.

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